Monthly Archives: January 2017

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Welcome to the round-up of a yet another busy week for Helsby RC, and thanks to everyone who has sent in a report or contribution for the blog. There’s quite a bit in the inbox this week with people continuing to be busy following our hosting of another successful 4VHM last weekend. Whether you’ve been racing in events or organising stuff on behalf of the club, its great to see so much activity going on around the club, and with so many different people getting involved – Well done Green Army!

Dates For Your Diary

Firstly a few reminders of what’s coming up:

Tomorrow – Wednesday 25th January 2017 – its the 10k time trial, meet at club house for 6.30pm – full details are in email already sent out by Col & Louise. If you don’t fancy the TT there’s always someone who’ll join you for an alternative run, so still turn up.

Tomorrow – Wednesday 25th January 2017 – a reminder that we will be meeting in the bar after the run tomorrow to decide our Fell and Road Race counters for the next 12 months, so do come along if you’d like to contribute to the process.

If anybody would like to run in the l&d xc at clarkes gardens allerton liverpool on sunday 5th feb 11am start

Please email me your name and date of birth by friday 27th januaryIf you have already entered a xc this yearI have your date of birth so just send me a messageThanks to everyone who has already messaged me on facebookPaulP.s this is the last xc of the year to pre enter”

“Hello all, as you may or may not know we are holding the next Borders League race 5 at Manley Mere on Sunday 5th March, 11am start. Preparation for this Helsby organised race has now started and we need the lovely people of Helsby RC who are not planning on running, to help out if at all possible and Marshall. You will probably be needed from 10am through to around 12pm approx, and we will position you out on the course somewhere, all to be figured out still.

We need 22 marshalls, 2 people on lead bike (1 position already filled hopefully) and a course sweeper. If you can volunteer or if you are planning on running could possibly get a friend or family member to Marshal then that would be very much appreciated. We cannot put on these events without you’re help. Anyone who can could you email fitzpatrick_chris@hotmail.com to let me know please.

We are also going to hold a recce of the course on Sunday 12th Feb, 11am start, I would suggest you get to Manley Mere around 10.45am, don’t forget to bring your £2 for parking.

Thanks and see you all soon

Fitzy”

Racing News

Sunday 22/01/17 Borders League Race 4 at Deeside

Thanks to Colin Thompson for the report:

“Borders League race No.4 saw the Green Army toeing the line at a chilly Deeside sports centre, a fantastic showing of the green vest with no less than 28 of us! A huge thank you to everyone who turned out to support the club. The course is a relatively short one for a borders, just shy of 4.5 miles, but it has a sting in its tail as it takes you up and down the steep Kelsterton Lane, pretty tough going!

It’s a real shame there was a Borders and XC clash this season as I think the numbers at the XC suffered as a consequence but it’s important for us to get as many green vests to the borders as possible to avoid penalty points, our ladies team is still recovering from this from the first BL.

On to the race, a fabulous run was had by all on what was a fast but also challenging course, the start and finish on a running track is certainly a first for me! A few stand out performances belong to our BL debutants who were Danny Ryder (amazingly 20th on his first race for the club and 2nd home for Helsby – excellent stuff Danny!) Danielle Ryder also had a brilliant race and then decided to do a 13 mile cool down afterwards, that’s dedication! Matt Huntbach is flying at the moment and so is Paul Cunningham who seemed to enjoy every minute of it! Kate Mann is just getting better with each race and seemed to enjoy her first BL.

Too many other excellent individual performances to mention but it’s congratulations to Alison Halsall (also first Helsby lady home after a close battle with Jane Ashbrook) and Christina Roach who both won their respective age groups to help the ladies top the table on the day! Jane A was second in her age group also. Congrats ladies and if we can keep the momentum going we should be out of the relegation zone in the last few races.

The men came 4th team overall on the day to consolidate their 5th position in the league, great running chaps!

Thank you to Fitzy and Laura for rallying the troops before the race and also a big thank you to our support on the day – Mario and Joe!

The next race will be hosted by us at Manley Mere. It’s a brand new race so please come along to support the event whether marshalling or racing. Fitzy will send out all the details nearer the time.”

Also, thanks to Tim Palmer for also sending in a summary of the Borders League results.

Sunday 22/01/17 North West XC League Race 5 – Town Park, Runcorn

Thanks to Colin Bishop for sending in this race report:

“Hishort and sweet race report for this weeks XC as the team was small and sweet, only 4 men and 1 lady which was a pity as the collective points from the turn out was not that high, 305 for the men and 38 for the ladies unfortunately there will be penalties, anyway……a cold wintery start to the race, if we had not already woken up, the start certainly got our attention with a dash through a cold watering hole lots of splashing and squealing to be heard, (think there will be some good photo’s) then on to the mud the glorious mud, two laps including a running up the side of the ski slope and two slides down it!! Glad to say all home in one piece, valiant effort from the team well deserved chocolate flapjacks afterwards,thanks to Jane for support, flapjacks and token collectioncheers Colin B”

Parkrun

It was great to get a report sent in about a Parkrun this week. Over to Davyd Mitchell:

“Parkrun tourist report

Unfortunately due to visiting family I was unable to take part in the Borders race, however I did manage to find a local parkrun to be a tourist at. The nearest parkrun was located in Nonsuch park, the course was 3 laps with a mixture of paths and grass, but was pretty flat. I’d underestimated the weather and Saturday morning arrived and it was –5!. The good news was the ground was hard and the grass section which looked like it could have been a bit boggy was frozen solid. 483 people toed the line and off we set, 3 cold laps later we were done. I managed a good time for me, I think this might have had something to to with trying to avoid frostbite, coming home in 19:58 for 35th. It was the usual well organized friendly event and nice to run on a different course. David”

Thanks for the report Davyd. Well, Helsby Parkrunners are certainly improving my knowledge of geography week on week! From Davyd in Nonsuch to Mark Gittins in Hervey Bay, whose been showing the Aussies how its done. Mark finished first in his Parkrun down-under in 18:47 – Well done Mark! While nearer to home Colin Bishop stayed true to form by finishing third at Widnes in 17:53. Our club’s consolidated results can be viewed HERE

Fitzy’s Caption Competition

I know you’ve all been squirming with anticipation, waiting for the winner of Fitzy’s caption competition to be announced. Well, after much deliberation the prize of a pair of 4VHM socks goes to Gareth Boyd for his brilliant entry (now captioned below).

Tim is saying “that’s for not shouting Greeeeeeeen Armmmmmy, at the start line! “

Well done Gareth, you can collect your prize from the Quartermaster next time your at the clubhouse.

Like this:

It’s only right that we start with the #4vhm. Yet again another tremendous event was put on by Laura and the team, too many names to mention but for every one of you who helped in some way, thank you. I haven’t seen one bad comment on social media and everyone I have talked to gave it a big thumbs up.

I asked for as many race reports to be sent in and i would include them in the blog, and we got a massive two reports come in. Well done Ivan and Emma for taking it seriously. I would like to put in some of the best comments from members of our great club that they stuck on social media.Highlights below…

“I didn’t run but Everton had a rare win can I send you a report on that” #collectorsitem

“Shouted green army at start. Fitzy went off fast. Finished. Was cold. Traffic awful, must have been a race on somewhere. Came back to club to move some barriers and unload a mucky van. Then if that wasn’t enough had to drive to Ellesmere Port to pick some muddy ginger twonk up”

“I turned left at mile 10 and the weather turned and spat in my face. Even the Frodfather looked shocked”

A few more serious reports from Ivan and Emma below.

This was my 10th 4VHM, and possibly the wettest and windiest one I’ve ever done. Despite natures best efforts, i was truly amazed at the amount of runners that turned up to run, what i think, is one of the best races around. Great Green army shout and we were away. I don’t know why the first hill always surprises me in the first mile, as it forms part of 2 of our winter runs, that said the crowds were fantastic all the way out to the back lanes. Myself and darren had a bit of a battle for a few miles, and he certainly kept me pushing on. Great to see some familiar faces from the club out on the course shouting support, and it really does give you a much needed boost when you’re suffering. I’m sure i saw Paul Frodsham twice, or he’s got an identical twin? The last two miles as always are almost enjoyable, especially the vocal support from the group at the golf club. Andy R , and Tanya i think? Personally, i was pleased with 1.28 as not raced much this last year so hopefully this will be a good starter for more races in 2017, if only to stop Fitzy having a digon Facebook. Way off a PB, but its reminded me how much i enjoy racing. Greeeeen Armyyyyyyy!!!!

So in summary..best race around, great support,no PB, weather terrible.

Superb Ivan, hope to see you at a lot more starting this Sunday 🙂

First time running the course – conditions were not the best. In fact, there were times I thought the marshals & helpers deserved a medal for being out there in the cold & rain!Lovely route, but that wind was a bit of a pig in places!! Support was great! Lots of encouragement from the green army both on the road and from the sidelines. This time last year I said I’d never do a half…. I enjoyed it so much, I might just do it again. Time 02:13:34

Winner will be picked next week by whoever is on the blog….and wins another pair of #4vhm socks

Wiggo was steeling from the rich and giving to the poor whilst he did the Sherwood Pines Park Run, Bish was coming in 2nd in Widnes, and other runners were at Ellesmere Port, Chester, & Delamere. Full list of consolidated results below

Nothing else race wise to report on but it’s a big weekend for the Borders League and Cross Country teams on Sunday, and we have another clash in fixtures.

The borders league takes us to Deeside, 11am Start, post code CH5 4BR, 11am start, 10 men and 4 ladies needed please. For any newcomers, feel free to come along, all abilities are welcome and they are free to race in, just turn up with your vest on, on the day to count.

Like this:

Helsby runners were in action at Chester, Telford, Delamere, Ellesmere Port, Widnes. Highlights included a first place for Colin Bishop and a Ladies 3rd place for Adele Croxton, both at Widnes. Well done.

Saturday was the Cheshire XC Championships. Chris Fitzpatrick, who was sporting a rather fetching side parting for the occasion, sent in this report.

Birchwood Forest Park was the venue again for the Cheshire championships and due to the lack of rain over the previous few days the 4-5 lap course was by the time we got out on it extremely muddy, probably the muddiest course I have ever taken part in, and it was the thick gloopy mud that made running extremely hard and really did make you work very hard to get any speed up at all.

The ladies race set off with 7 green vests for 4 laps of the field with Jane Ashbrook, Laura BH and Christine Roach making it the 1,2,3 and the team 9th out of 18 on the day.

The men’s race had 10 green vests for 5 laps of the field with Neil Finegan continuing his excellent form coming home first and also picking up a spot on the Cheshire reserve team, having chased him for a few laps I know how well he is running, brilliant yet again Neil. He was followed by myself and Ian Rutherford close behind for the 1,2,3. The men’s overall team came 5th out of 15 teams which is a great position considering some of the bigger clubs we beat, and the old boy vets claimed 3rd place beating teams like Vale Royal and getting themselves a nice Bronze Medal. Well done Neil, myself, Ian and CBH, make sure you wear them all the time and everywhere you go.

All in all a fun but very muddy day out, big thanks to the support on the day from Foz, Mario and Joe and also the club chauffeur Davyd who’s new name is Captain Picard for his ability to get us from 0 to warp speed so quickly

Like this:

Welcome to the Xmas round-up, plenty of green vests were out in action, thank you for all the reports this week. Before we get to the news there are just a couple of reminders below.

Reminders

If anybody would like to run in the northern XC race at Knowsley safari park on Saturday 28th January 2017 Please can you let me know by Tuesday 10th Jan either on the Facebook post or send an email to mooeyf@hotmail.com.

Women’s 8k race is 2.15 pm Men’s 12k race is 3.05 pm

Cheers
Paul

Norton Intervals

To compliment Joe & Mario’s Monday night track session, myself and Roy have started to do intervals at the Norton run on Thursday evenings. They consist of 1 mile and 1k reps, tempo runs and speed drills. Come on down if you want to get some extra speed into those legs. We train on the Astmoor Industrial estate in Runcorn which is flat and traffic free. Sessions are on every Thursday at 6.30pm, all abilities welcome. Start is outside Bilfingers at the end of Tudor Road WA7 1BD.

Tour De Llyn Lladaw

Report by Jim Jones

I started my fell running for 2017 with a run around Llyn Llydaw reservoir on New Year’s morning. Weather was pretty foul as I set off in wind rain and hail. Typically of Snowdonia weather, it did change for the better as I came off the Miner’s Track to do a clockwise circuit of Llyn Llydaw. Running around the steep banks of Llydaw was pretty tricky in places with the footing mostly boggy or slippery rocks. I took a couple of tumbles while taking in the stunning views of snow topped Crib Goch and Y Liwedd. Chip timing and staggered starts means you are just racing against the clock in this race – not that I was taking it seriously. For me its a chance to be out in the mountains knowing I’ve got a good support team – and it was very well organised and supported for just £3! The route is between 5 and 6 miles with about 600ft of climb. I haven’t seen any results yet but they should appear at: http://www.gorphwysfa.org/races.htm

Jubilee Plunge

Report by Jim Jones

Tuesday 27th December was a cold but clear day as Phil Gillard and I were among 81 fell runners gathered on top of Moel Famau for the 2 mile mad descent to the Golden Lion pub in Llangynhafal. There is no prescribed route, but options are pretty limited in such a short race. Phil and I looked at the limited route choices on our way up. It’s familiar ground to anyone who has done the Green Grass of Home or Llangynhafal Loop races. After setting off in a broad line behind a way-marker the terrain soon dictated what was most likely to be the finishing order as most slotted into single file before taking a steep ‘off piste’ descent to a single tracked road. I’d found myself running just behind Phil, and that’s probably how it would have finished – if he had seen the small drainage ditch along the roadside! I did pause to check he could pick himself up off the road, but not long enough for him to catch me up again. Great fun on a bank holiday, and just £1 to enter!

The first runner home was Michael Corrales of North Wales Road Runners in 11:11, followed by Jez Brown of Buckley in 11:23. Finishing for Helsby: Jim Jones, 40th, 15:43 and Phil Gillard, 43rd, 15:55.

Chester Round the Walls

Report by Neil Finegan

An unusual race for the cold Boxing day morning, with 495 runners assembled at the racecourse in Chester in a sold out event running for its 45th time.

What made it unusual was that it was a course with so many twists,turns, steps and pedestrians that you couldn’t really pick up any speed or get into a rhythm. Instead you could just enjoy the scenic route and atmosphere without the pressure of it being an all out sprint. And lets face it, on boxing day most of us aren’t really up to a all out sprint around Chester. From the start on the racecourse we went out onto the narrow canal towpaths before heading onto the Chester walls themselves at the cathedral. From there it was through the clock tower, dodging tourists (who were very supportive) and round to the river Dee. Here the course opened out a little with wider and straight paths – so there was a chance for the last third of the 6.5 km course to stretch the legs and an opportunity finally to overtake without risking your neck!

It was a great way to burn off the excess of Christmas – a nice friendly atmosphere and to top it all as a momento you received a nice mug with a map of the course on it,filled with hot chocolate. It is a unique race – and it was easy to see why it sold out.

First back for Helsby was Colin Bishop in 7th and winning his category, followed by myself (15th) , Richard Hankins (44th who stormed out of the blocks), Tim Palmer (60th) , Chris Morgan (263), Ste Wiggins (268) and Dave Wiggins (302)

parkrun

Plenty of green at the parkruns over the festive season, it looks like we had one on Xmas day, NYE and NYD! It’s fantastic to have these options available to us and it’s testament to the tenacious effort of the volunteers who turn up and put on a fantastic run for us in rain wind or shine. Well done to everyone who managed to get to one. We also have a report from our top vet Colin Bishop. Over to Col…

“Just thought would let you know about Keswick parkrun, they were one of the parkruns that organised an extra run on NY day, what a lovely course, fairly flat for Keswick along the old railway line,

as usual with parkrun’s friendly welcoming group

4th position not too bad for a bitterly cold morning run

would recommend this one should anyone be up that neck of the lakes

Cheers Colin

P.S. good turnout for Helsby at Chester run the walls on Boxing Day – commemorative mug for all the finishers made a nice change”